Having left his job as a pony-driver in the Hickleton Main Colliery for Southern League football with Brentford, Willie’s Smith’s haul of 10 goals in 27 outings was good enough for Southampton to sign him. In his initial run, for the Saints, of 14 games in that League – playing either at centre-forward or alongside Percy Prince, at inside-left – his tally of four goals was only one goal shy of his Brentford ratio.

But he was nevertheless dropped for Prince; then came back for a brief, goalless spell; and finally made way for new signing, Arthur Hollins. He returned to his native Yorkshire, and Midland League football with Halifax Town but only lasted three games before moving to Leeds where he had found employment. He died in his early 40s of causes unknown.